The newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Delhi, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, tabled a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the second day of the eighth Delhi Assembly on Tuesday. Earlier, it was expected that the BJP government would table key pending CAG reports out of 14 audits on the previous AAP government’s performance in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday (February 25). Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabled the CAG report in the absence of several Opposition MLAs.
Loss of revenue of approximately 2,002 crore: CAG report
"Apart from the above three, incorrect collection of Security Deposit from zonal Licensees, led to loss of revenue of around Rs 27 Crore. Therefore, these implementation issues of the new policy led to a loss of revenue of approximately 2,002 crore. Excise Policy aimed to eradicate sale of spurious liquor and check bootlegging.
However, important measures which were planned in the policy like setting up of liquor testing laboratories, batch testing for rigorous quality assurance, and monitoring and regulation through creation of a dedicated post were not ensured. The BJP has been alleging that the reports were withheld by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration to hide their scams," the audit report reads.
Earlier, the chief minister had announced last Thursday that the reports would be made public in the first session under the new government.
What are controversial CAG reports?
The pending CAG audits include reviews of state finances, public health infrastructure, vehicular air pollution, liquor regulation and the functioning of the Delhi Transport Corporation, among others.
The BJP had repeatedly demanded the release of these reports during the AAP's tenure, even moving the court to direct the government to table them. The saffron party had accused the AAP government of deliberately stalling the audits to hide alleged corruption. The issue was a major point of contention during the assembly elections, with the BJP highlighting the delay as an attempt to suppress findings of financial mismanagement.
A key report under scrutiny pertains to the renovation of the chief minister’s official residence at 6, Flag Staff Road, termed as 'Sheesh Mahal' by the BJP. The audit has reportedly uncovered large-scale irregularities in the project’s planning, tendering and execution. Initially sanctioned at Rs 7.61 crore in 2020, the cost escalated to Rs 33.66 crore by April 2022 — an increase of 342 per cent.
The BJP and the Congress have used these findings to target former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging misuse of public funds.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had previously raised concerns over the non-disclosure of these reports and had urged the legislative assembly to convene a special session in December last year. However, the reports were not presented during the AAP’s tenure, leading to growing demands for their release.
BJP leader Vijender Gupta, who was a vocal critic of the AAP government’s handling of the CAG reports as the Leader of Opposition in the last assembly and had been marshalled out of the Assembly in the past for demanding their tabling, now presides as the Speaker. With Gupta in charge, the reports are expected to be placed before the House without further delay.
(With PTI inputs)